Murderer of Author Menis Koumandareas Arrested and Prosecuted

Greek Police have arrested a 25-year-old Romanian man who confessed that he murdered author Menis Koumandareas in order to rob him. The criminal prosecutor has filed charges of premeditated murder against him and his accomplice, a 29-year-old man, also from Romania.

83-year-old Koumandareas, one of Greece’s most acclaimed authors, was strangled at his home in Kypseli, Athens, in the early hours of December 6, 2014. Police had launched an investigation that led to the suspect’s arrest. The Romanian man confessed to the murder after hours of interrogation. He also said that he had an accomplice who is wanted by police.

According to a police report, the Romanian who is referred to as Stefan S., was arrested yesterday at Victoria Square in downtown Athens. The man had friendly relations with Koumandareas and his number was found on the author’s cell phone. He confessed that he visited the author’s home with his compatriot in order to ask him for money. The two men knew that Koumandareas had cash from a house he had recently sold.

The Romanian man said that Koumandareas refused to give them the money and the three men wrangled. He said that the author was pushed and hit his head as he fell, causing his death. However, the coroner’s report said that the death was caused by strangulation.

Police found genetic material of two other men in Koumandareas’ apartment, the one matching the Romanian man’s DNA.

The prosecutor has filed criminal charges against the Romanian man, while his accomplice is still wanted by police.